“I don’t know what he is doing. Yes… I know we have taken over your city. But it is for the best father. The cities were supposed to unite with the marriage between he and Princess Fin. But when that didn’t happen…” she said, as she handed Zion another matis flower. Guida glanced at her father in shame. She knew her husband had seized an entire city. But she feared him more than anyone. And she feared for her father. She hoped he would stop asking questions. It wasn’t safe. They weren’t out of harm’s way.
“Guida…Your mother and I did not raise you to idly stand by as a city gets taken by force. He is your husband. You have his son. He would never harm you, as you are needed to raise his child,” he said. Guida gave a look. Halacai wasn’t sure what the look implied. She stood up and sighed. Her breath, long and deep. She seemed annoyed. Bothered by their short yet intense conversation.
“Have I upset you?” he asked. “No father. But know this…I am not safe. That’s all I can say. Please return home. I can keep you safe as long as he does not feel you are a threat. You must stop seeking. Stop asking questions. He will not harm Mojarro. He just wants to join the cities. He hates Lark. But that is my fault,” she said. Halacai furrowed his brow. “Why would that be your fault?” he asked, unaware that she had history with Lark. “Father please! We will talk another day. He will be in soon. Please go! And don’t return unless you are here to see me, mother or Zion.
Halacai stood. He moved like a man of significant years. “That is my home that he has destroyed. In the end he will destroy you. The gods are watching. He has broken their laws. You are right…I should stay away. And you should leave. I wouldn’t want to be around when the gods make him answer for what he has done. Mojarro is the land of the highest. The founding gods and goddesses. It is why the land is the most exquisite. The most-regal. Every jewel is there in abundance. He wants the jewels. The gold. And he still wants Fin,” he said. Guida looked down in shame. She was aware her husband loved another. And Halacai was angered at his daughter taking a blind eye to the destruction of Andreus.
“You are loyal to him when he doesn’t even honor you as his wife. He would leave you quickly if she would have him. He wants her dead because he cannot have her. She cannot be bought. She cannot be changed. I thought you learned something from her during your brief meeting,” he said. Guida scoffed. “Get out father! That is enough. Leave!” she ordered.
Andreus walked in slowly. He heard his wife yelling. He looked between them. “What is happening?” he asked. Halacai threw his hood over his head. “Nothing Your Highness. I was just leaving. Apparently, my daughter thinks I am overstepping my grandfather role,” he said. Guida kept her eyes down on her son. Andreus narrowed his eyes. Guida was not easy to arouse. His father in laws excuse made no sense. “Sure,” he said.
Halacai walked past Andreus and bowed, as he exited the large room. He walked the long exquisitely decorated hall to the door. The castle was looking more like the one in Mojarro. It was obvious jewels had been taken. Andreus’ walls were adorned with large rubies and emeralds. The door, decorated with solid gold leafing and embedded with crushed diamonds. Halacai sneered as he opened it. His city was being robbed of its precious stones. Andreus had no shame. He had already commissioned craftsmen and welders to make his castle as opulent at King Zanders. It was disheartening. And Halacai felt powerless to do anything about it. His daughter was acting strange. She was a much more fierce woman by nature. Something had changed. And he was unsure of what it was.
“Arfusei,” Lark exclaimed, as the men embraced. They laughed then embraced again. The men standing around smiled. Everyone was glad to be back in unity, even if for a brief moment. Rotiro and Casio stood next to Lark. Soon their faces lit up as they watched Ziege approaching in the distance. Arfusei smiled at him. He and Ziege had a special bond. Missing was Sparrow and Clem. It was bittersweet. Sparrow was a great soldier. A fierce protector and leader. Lark missed him the most. Sparrow and Arfusei were there from the beginning.
“Ziege,” Lark greeted. Ziege gave a reluctant smile and nodded. He winced in pain from the touch to his delicate and bruised skin. He had been beaten and tortured, in their enemies’ quest to capture Lark. But Ziege refused to talk. He knew Lark hid in the Trojian Sea yet he remained silent. He bore the scars of his loyalty. Lark looked him over. “Are you alright?” he asked. “I will be. I’m just glad you are alive. I wasn’t sure,” he replied. Lark stared intensely at him. He was never more proud to be connected to the men that stood before him. Arfusei and Ziege in particular. Lark looked at the young boy that had gone to retrieve Arfusei.
“You did a great thing. I am proud of you. You will make a great guard. Now go home. Tell your mother you served the king. Tell her I have given you honors,” he said, as he removed a golf leaf shaped medal from his vest and placed it in the boys hand. The boy looked at it in awe. “Thanks, Your Highness,” he said, as he ran off. Lark looked around. He stared in the faces of brave soldiers and citizens, prepared to speak.
“We don’t have much time. The Eulachon soldiers will return. Their king must have summoned them. He will send them back so be prepared,” he said, as he looked upon the faces of citizens not part of the army.
“For those men here who were not part of our original army, I want to thank you. Your courage to fight with us is admirable. We thank you, each of you, for your bravery in these trying times. We need to strike when the time is right. It has to be a well thought out plan. Keep your eyes and ears open. We will use code words to identify ourselves. Speak to no one unless they say Zion. Their soldiers would have no need to mention the son of their king. He is an infant. It would be forbidden to speak on him. Say that name to each other to identify that it is about the war. Then pass along any information you have. I will go to Queen Finora. We need her guidance. I want to be sure of my plans and find out if she can add anything that will help us,” he said. The men looked at one another.
“The Princess, Your Highness? She abandoned us. She doesn’t care about Mojarro. Why speak with her,” one of the citizens shouted. Ziege looked at Arfusei. The men were upset at the outburst. Fin was well loved. They still held her in high regard and was unaware that any of their citizens felt that way.
“You mean Queen. Why do you say such things? How many people feel as you do?” Ziege asked. Lark looked at him then back to the man speaking. “Many of us feel that way. Especially the women. She has abandoned Mojarro. Many say she has gone to live in Panga or Piratchu. She gave up her throne. That is an act that is unforgiveable,” he replied. Lark narrowed his eyes at the man.
“Then you cannot fight alongside of us. We still stand with her. It is because of her that we were victorious in the first battle. She still stands with us. She loves Mojarro. You are wrong. I know where she is. She is not living with our neighbors in Panga or Piratchu. I cannot tell you were she is. Her location must be kept secret. But I can tell you she is safe. And above all else, never forget who she is. She is the daughter of our beloved King Zander. And she is still our queen. Never forget that,” Lark said. Ziege looked on proudly. He was unaware that Lark knew of her location. It was a relief. Arfusei looked at Ziege. He too was relieved. They knew Fin’s value and they would never underestimate her. She was fierce. And she was smart. If Lark went to her and used her instruction, they believed it would surely result in a grand battle and a magnificent victory.
“Do you wish to leave soldier? You must have faith. And you must continue to love and honor the queen. If you cannot, you must return home. We will still fight for you and your family,” Lark noted. The soldier looked around. The other men looked away. If they felt the same, they weren’t prepared to voice it before their king. “No, Your Majesty. I wish to join you. I will have faith. I was wrong. And I do love the princess,” he replied. “Good. Because it was not her intention to make any of you feel forsaken,” he said, as he glanced at many of the faces. The men looked defeated. Their faces tired. But their hearts were ready. Lark could see it
.
“Now listen up, everyone…,” Lark said, as began to instruct the men. He spoke to them for nearly an hour. He told them how to live quietly. Discreetly. Lark told his new and returning soldiers that he would devise a plan and get word to them. That they were to go on as normal. Keep his words from prying ears. Lark asked that they not discuss it with family or among each other until they had instructions. The men listened intently. Lark continued, glancing over at his lookouts who were to watch for the returning Eulachonian soldiers. Soon the men dispersed. They went back to their homes. Lark, Arfusei and Ziege stood around talking and catching up on old times. Ziege chimed in with a question he was anxious to ask.
“Do you really know where to find her?” he asked. Lark nodded. “Yes. I do. And I will go to her. She will help us.”
Undercurrent
“I had the house taken off the market. You just need to sign these documents and I will fax them to the realtor,” Maria said. Lance sat at his desk going over the latest draft of his new phone and internet gadget. “Thanks,” he said, as he signed the paper and handed it back to her. Maria turned and left his office. Lance sat his pen down and looked out the window. He twiddled his thumbs then bowed his head and reflected on his home life. He was back to square one. It wouldn’t be long before Fin would want to move back. Keeping the house was a step in the wrong direction.
“See you in the morning,” Maria said, as Lance exited out the door. He waved, then walked out, headed to his car. Lance got in and paused. He thought about going by the old home. It was his home once again. He could at least check on it. He was stuck with it. He hated to admit that it did hold the best memories. He could still finish the deal. The couple that wanted it had left him a voice message. They were desperately hoping to make a deal. He turned the ignition and drove towards the home. He would need to check on it. He was tired and it was getting late but it was the best time. The home was only forty minutes from the office. He planned to make it a quick check.
Memories flooded in as he drove down the private drive towards his home. The skies were dusk A dark orange sun surrounded by beautiful blue skies made the drive breathtaking. Lance pressed the button on his remote and the gate opened slowly. He drove up the driveway and turned the car off. Lance sighed. He looked around. He couldn’t deny the appeal of the house. It was magnificent. He was surprised at how much he missed living there.
The wind picked up as he opened his door and got out. He looked around carefully, inspecting every square inch of the exterior. He walked slowly up the path and circled the entire perimeter of the home then pulled his keys out. He placed it in the lock but noticed the door handle was loose. Lance furrowed his brow. It was broken. He pushed the door and it opened easily. Lance became nervous. Someone had forced their way into his home.
“Howdy neighbor,” a voice in the distance greeted. Lance turned around. His next-door neighbor stood waving from a top floor balcony. “How are you,” Lance greeted, as he looked around. “Great! The wife and I was wondering if you sold it?” the man said. Lance shook his head as he replied, “No!”
The conversation was distracting. Lance had more pressing matters at hand. A quick wave to his neighbor was enough. The man seemed to sense Lance was stressed. He turned and entered his home as Lance entered his. He walked slowly, cutting on the entryway light. Fear set in. If it was a burglar, he would have an advantage. Lance had no weapons on him. He was strong but not invincible and he would be no match for an armed intruder.
Lance thought he heard movement. He picked up a small metal statue and gripped it firmly in his hand. He advanced down the hall towards the grand room. Soft movement coming from the direction of the living room or the kitchen had him on edge. Lance held the statue tight. He continued towards the room. He could see it was empty. He turned and headed towards the kitchen taking each step deliberately as he tried to keep as quiet as he could. Soon he heard a more projecting sound coming from the entryway.
“Mr. Reed!” a voice called out. The voice sounded like his neighbor. He had only met him a few times. They had no relationship other than waving to one another. Lance turned to walk towards his voice when suddenly the sound of running could be heard coming from his kitchen. Lance could hear the door slide open. He ran into the kitchen. He could see the back of a man, as the man ran onto the patio and down onto the dock. The man, clad in ill-fitted athletic pants and no top, ran and jumped in the water.
“Mr. Reed!” the voice yelled out. “Yes!” Lance replied, as he exited the kitchen and stood on his patio staring out at the water. He quickly turned to the familiar voice. “Everything alright? You looked spooked. I could tell something was wrong so I came to help,” the neighbor said. Lance was breathing at a frantic pace as he tried to calm himself. “I’m fine. Someone was in here. He ran onto the dock and jumped in the water,” he said. His neighbor walked up to him and stood next to him. “Jumped in the ocean?” he asked, a bewildered look on his face. “Yes!” Lance replied, as he walked down the path towards the dock.
The men walked the dock, looking around its edge. It was dusk and the lack of lighting made made it difficult to see. Lance’s neighbor held a small caliber handgun in his hand as he continued to search the edge of the waters. Lance glanced down at his hand.
“Thanks for coming. I had nothing for protection. I wasn’t sure what I would encounter,” he said. “Oh yeah. I grabbed it just in case. Wasn’t sure what was going on. This is weird. We don’t get break in’s around here. If the house is empty, I can keep an eye on it for you. Bob told me he thought he saw a moving truck here but he wasn’t sure. The lights were always on,” the neighbor noted. Lance nodded. He was keeping the lights on and was surprised that the outdoor lighting hadn’t come on automatically. “I have to check the exterior lights. They should have come on,” Lance said.
“Well…I looked around again. Whoever it was is gone now. I’ll check the perimeter for you in the morning. I’ll alert the patrolling officer to keep a look out,” the neighbor said. Lance shook his hand. He appreciated the help. It was going to be quite a task keeping up with the home, especially if someone had targeted it. There were still some items inside. Things of value. Lance’s mind raced. A burglar would never take such a risk. The ocean waters were not friendly. It was suicidal to take a leap. The thought crossed his mind about Madaka. But he quickly brushed off the incident as a stranger taking a chance on a dark and deserted looking home. One glance in the window would tell the story of a home with no occupants. Adding to the homes vacated appearance was the fact that the lights weren’t coming on. Lance grabbed his phone and made several calls to a repairman and an electrician. He shook the hand of his neighbor. He was indebted to the man he only knew in passing. “Thanks! I appreciate everything. Thanks for coming to help!”
K
ing Lark swam through the Trojian Sea. He made his way to the Ayu Mountains not far from the castle. He swam into a small cavern in the side of it and settle for a long night. The eulachonian soldiers were back at their posts at the castle and on the streets of Mojarro. Lark had failed in his attempt to contact Fin. She was no longer at the home. The last place he’d seen her.
Lark relaxed on the rock and thought of his next move. The clear waters felt like home. It was home. His lungs took in the water, clearing out the debris and thick sediment that had entered his lungs as he swam through the brine of the Dark Lair. Guida entered his mind. Lark shook his head. It was torturous to think of her. She was married to someone else and they had a child. He wanted to forget about Guida. As with Fin, he loved a woman who ultimately, did not belong to him. He had suffered another broken heart. And thoughts of Guida clouded what he should be concentrating on. Mojarro.
He wanted an alternate plan. In case Fin couldn’t be located. Andreus had not begun to send eulachon citizens to live there. A sign he was still getting familiarized with the city. Lark had time. Once the citizens moved in, it would be hard to move about. It helped that he had only the soldie
rs to worry about. But with a large number of newcomers, he feared an uprising. The citizens could eventually mount their own war to claim land that wasn’t theirs even if their soldiers had been defeated. It would be impossible to regain power. Their numbers were too massive to overcome. Lark didn’t have much time. He knew Andreus had to be preparing to evacuate many from eulachon.
“You asked to see me Sire,” the lieutenant in command said, as he entered Andreus’ meeting chambers. “Yes! Sit please. I want to discuss my plans. And when were done, I need you to get several soldiers ready to walk through our city. I need to greet our residents,” he replied. Andreus sat at his throne. He could hear Zion outside his door. He opened the door and picked his son up. “Exucse me. It seems my son has decided to visit,” he said. Guida ran in and grabbed Zion. “No, no. Your father is busy,” she said. Andreus smiled at Guida. She smiled and nodded as she removed the toddler from his room. Andreus didn’t mind. It seemed he was seeing his son less and less. He was busy speaking with the people of Eulachon and trying to win back their approval. A daunting task.
His popularity had suffered a blow when the citizens discovered the soldiers were raping women. Sex was a new discovery for them and yet still they understood that it was a choice. That their bodies were their temples. It was frowned upon, that the men would force such a personal act. And the eulachonians were disgusted with the king. They blamed him even though he was not responsible. They expected him to have total control of his army. The mojarroian people were not enemies. Many of them still viewed them as neighbors. As a generous society with spoils that they shared. And now Andreus had to do damage control.
Pretty Fin- Raging Seas Page 6